Communication method and device

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a real-time communication method between two persons, one referred to as client located in a client space and the other referred to as advisor located in an advisor space, the method making available to the advisor, the images and the sound of the client requesting advice, instructions and indications regarding design, production, use, utilisation, repair, maintenance, consultation, localisation, destruction, disposal, localisation and elimination and guidance for one or more products located in or moving through a real physical space referred to as product space, and making available to the client the images and the sound of the advisor interacting with the images of the client space and/or the product space. Also disclosed is a device for implementing the above method.

FIELD OF APPLICATION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of the communication betweena person requesting an assistance and/or an expertise and a person thatmay provide said assistance and/or said expertise and notably to theadaptations for implementing such a communication in the bestconditions.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

Such a communication may be implemented in various situations andnotably:

-   -   during the sale of products by commercial areas receiving        clients, the communication for providing the sale and the act of        purchase in the best conditions,    -   during remote medical consultations,    -   during the distribution of products such as medicinal products,    -   during the maintenance of equipment, products and        infrastructure,    -   during the assistance with the control of flying or rolling        vehicles,    -   during the establishment of military actions.

In the field of sales by commercial areas receiving clients, thepurchasing process by a client in a store having a sales area withmaking available of products is in competition with the remotepurchasing process carried out online by means of a computer tool with avirtual sales area. Thus, the stores (small or large) for selling anddistributing products and service are currently facing a decrease in thevisits thereof and in the appeal thereof with the development of onlinesales sites via Internet of products in the past sold or distributed bysaid stores or of new products that said stores would have been able todistribute.

Yet the client obtains a number of advantages in coming to thecommercial area. For example, the client may interact with the product,handle same, try same. The client may also obtain advice from the staffpresent.

The reduction of visits and of appeal is partly related to the lack orto the reduction of the number of staff intended for said advice insidesaid stores (the clients spending a lot of time finding advisor staff orwaiting the turn thereof in order to obtain advice) and/or the lack ofqualification, competence and technical training of the advisory staffwithin said stores.

Making available said advice currently requires the presence over a widetime frame of qualified staff, which constitutes a cost for the salesareas. Furthermore, not all clients need advice and not all productsneed a test or advice on use.

A technical solution comprises making available to the clients locatedin the sales area, presentation videos of products sold projected onscreens arranged, for example, on aisle end displays. Such a solutionanimates the shelf and constitutes an advertising process. Nevertheless,same is not intended for a client in particular and is projected towardsany person passing in front of the screen whether or not same isinterested in the product subject of the video.

Another technical solution comprises making available to clients locatedin the sales area consoles for accessing the portal or the website ofthe store. Such a console reproduces the same services as the onlinepurchase site with the additional possibility of going to see, try orhold the product. For example, the site may make available videospre-made with advice on use, installation, etc.

Thus, the store creates a content, suitable or not, made available toclients on request of said latter by activating links available on theconsole for this purpose.

Another technical solution comprises making available to clients locatedin the sales area consoles for scanning barcodes conventionallyassociated with each product. Such a console not only makes it possibleto provide the price but also other information prepared about theproduct by the store or by the manufacturer. Technologies also exist inthe field of clothing, which, after having scanned a photo or the bodyof the client, make it possible to virtually try on the products on avirtual platform where the image of the product is placed on the imageof the client.

Nevertheless, it is understood that all of said various technical meansdo not make it possible to replace the advice from a trainedprofessional to the client.

One of the fields wherein said replacement is to date prohibited, forexample, in France, concerns the dispensing of medicinal products.Indeed, conventionally the patient must submit to the chemist aprescription dispensed by a doctor consulted beforehand. The chemist indirect contact with the patient dispenses the required medicinalproducts or replaces same with other equivalents and/or generics. Withregards to medicinal products dispensable under prescription, same arenot sold over the counter and the presence of a chemist is required.Yet, the organisation of the dispensing of medicinal products notably atnight, seems to be able to be optimised.

Thus, the communication with medical experts and/or chemists for thepurposes of dispensing of care and/or medicinal products are yet to beoptimised.

During the maintenance of equipment, products and infrastructure, in aworkshop, a factory, an operator may need to implement a communicationwith an expert of the operation that the operator is carrying out.

During the establishment of military actions, a soldier may requiretactical advice in order to resolve the difficulties to which thesoldier is faced.

For an assistance with the control of vehicles, the driving of vehiclesmay require a request for advice, emergency assistance.

Thus, it becomes apparent that a plurality of situations exist where acommunication with an expert, an advisor is necessary. It also becomesapparent the notions of client for a person having need of advice,assistance, expertise or same of product for a product, a situationwhereon may interact the advisor/expert must be understood according toa broad meaning.

Nevertheless, for the various situations cited said communication isonly useful if an exchange of images is implemented. The problem is thatsuch a real-time exchange requires complex means managing a large volumeof data.

These various drawbacks are also obstacles to the development ofcommunications between a person referred to as client and another personreferred to as advisor that may provide same with the assistance,expertise required.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

On the basis of this state of affairs, the requesters conducted researchaiming to optimise the communication for the request and real-timeremote supply of an expertise and of a technical assistance.

This research led to the design and to the implementation of a real-timecommunication method between at least one person referred to as clientlocated in or moving through a real physical space known as client spaceand at least one remote person referred to as advisor located in ormoving through a real physical space known as advisor space for thereal-time provision by the advisor to the client of instructions andindications regarding design, production, use, utilisation, repair,maintenance, consultation, localisation, destruction, disposal,localisation and elimination, and guidance of one or more productslocated in or moving through a real physical space referred to asproduct space,

which client space is provided with one or more means for receiving anddisplaying images,

which display means are positioned at a distance clearly defined inrelation to the client such as to enable same to clearly see the imagesdisplayed,

which advisor space is provided with one or more means for receiving anddisplaying images.

This communication method is noteworthy in that it comprises thefollowing operations:

-   -   carry out a capture of the images and of the sounds of the        client in the client space thereof,        and/or of the products in the product space thereof,

and/or of the client and of the products in the client space and theproduct space, by means of image sensors and of sound sensors, whichmobile and/or fixed image and sound sensors are located in or movethrough a real physical space referred to as image capture space,

-   -   transmit thanks to digital connections (wired and/or wireless)        said images and sounds captured to the advisor,    -   display said images received on display means located in the        advisor space,    -   position the advisor next to said images displayed such as to        enable same to interact with the images displayed either        directly or indirectly (via pointing means of laser or stick        type),    -   recapture the images and the sounds from the advisor in        interaction with the images displayed on display means located        in the advisor space via sensors located in a real physical        space referred to as advisor image recapture space, which        recapture sensors are dimensioned and positioned at a defined        distance in relation to the means for displaying images located        in the advisor space such that:    -   on one hand, to only recapture the images displayed on the        display means of the advisor space and the entire body of the        advisor in interaction with the images displayed and without the        advisor space or        the images displayed on the display means of the advisor space        and a portion of the body of the advisor in interaction with the        images displayed and without the advisor space or        the images displayed on the display means of the advisor space        and the pointing means of the advisor in interaction with the        images displayed and without the advisor space,    -   on the other hand, such as to prevent the distortion of images        related to image recaptures displayed on the screens,    -   to directly transmit said images and sounds recaptured by the        image and sound sensors located in the advisor image recapture        space to the client thanks to digital connections (wired and/or        wireless) and to display said images received on display means        located in the client space, such that the client sees the        advisor move either in the client space, or in the product        space.

This method is particularly innovative in that it establishes a forwardand backward motion of images making it possible for the requestingclient to obtain the image of an advisor interacting with the imagesthat the client obtains.

The communication and the transmission of advice or of the expertise arethereby significantly improved.

In addition, the superimposition of the image of the advisor interactingwith another image constitutes a technical means preventing a processingof the image that is too heavy and facilitates direct transmission.

Such a method finds applications in a number of fields such as:

-   -   sales,    -   remote medical consultations,    -   dispensing of medicinal products,    -   military action,    -   vehicle driving assistance,    -   etc.

According to another particularly advantageous feature, the method hasassociated or not the following features:

-   -   the client space is identical to the product space,    -   the client space is identical to the image capture space,    -   the client space, the image capture space and the product space        are identical,    -   the word product designates at least one of the following        categories:    -   inert physical products,    -   living physical products,    -   living beings (humans or animals).

(Here, this is not to claim a living being but to expand the meaning ofthe word “product” so that the object of the exchange of images, of thecommunication can be a human being such that this may be conceived forexample in a medical application for an intervention on a patient)

-   -   the client is in direct physical contact with the product or        products,    -   the client is in indirect physical contact with the product or        products,    -   the image and sound sensors located in or moving through the        image capture space are mounted on land or maritime flying        machines.

According to another feature of the invention, the client issues, beforethe operations of the method, a request for provision of instructionsand indications regarding design, production, use, utilisation, repair,maintenance, consultation, localisation, destruction, disposal,localisation and elimination, and guidance of one or more products withthe advisor.

According to another particularly advantageous feature of the invention,the client makes the search request thereof verbally or in writing innatural, human language on a peripheral unit referred to as client,which client peripheral unit is equipped with:

-   -   a module containing artificial intelligence enabling same to        interpret and analyse the request of the client,    -   sensors enabling same to dialogue and interact:    -   directly with one or more products,    -   and/or indirectly via the client, which client being in        interaction, in connection (in direct physical contact) with the        product or products,    -   at least one video sensor for filming the client in interaction        in connection (contact) with the product or products,    -   means for displaying images, videos and technical data of        products,        which client peripheral unit identifies the type of product,        analyses, processes, interprets the request of the client and        generates the sorting and selection conditions that same sends        to at least one central unit referred to as server,

which server central unit may contain data on the type of products anddata on the peripheral units referred to as advisors with which same isin digital connection and data on the advisor or manufacturer, and

which server central unit, after reception of the sorting and selectionconditions, selects the type of advisor peripheral unit capable ofresponding to the request from the client peripheral unit and from theclient such as to make it possible for the advisor peripheral unitselected to receive the images and/or videos of the client ininteraction, in connection, in contact with the product or products, andwhich advisor peripheral unit, selected enters into direct connectionwith a person referred to as advisor (expert, specialist in the productand the use thereof) so as to make possible the dialogue between theclient and the advisor, which advisor peripheral unit is equipped with:

-   -   a module containing artificial intelligence enabling same to        interpret and analyse the advice of the advisor,        which advisor may communicate verbally or in writing in natural,        human language,    -   sensors enabling same to dialogue and interact with the advisor,    -   means for displaying images and/or videos of the client in        interaction in connection with the product or products, and        received from the client peripheral unit by the advisor        peripheral unit,    -   at least one video sensor for filming the advisor in the process        of interacting with the images and/or videos of the actual        client in interaction (in connection/in contact) with the        product or products, which images and/or videos of the advisor        in interaction with the images or videos of the client are sent        back to the client peripheral unit and displayed on the display        means equipping the peripheral unit such that the client sees        the image thereof or videos superimposed with the image or the        video of the advisor in the process of giving same the analysis        and the technical expertise.

According to another particularly advantageous feature of the invention,the client peripheral unit communicates directly with the advisorperipheral unit without passing through the central unit referred to asserver.

According to another particularly advantageous feature of the invention,the advisor peripheral unit enters into relation with other advisorperipheral units via or not one or more intermediate servers.

According to another particularly advantageous feature of the invention,the products are mutually in connection.

According to another particularly advantageous feature of the invention,the products are equipped with means for the recognition thereof or theidentification thereof by the peripheral unit.

In the field of sales, the aim of the invention in particular is to

-   -   Make the clients come back into the stores, increase the visits        of stores selling products and or services (Relooking, food,        clothing, household appliances, haircare or any other product);    -   Make it possible for the client to be able to compare the        technical performances of a plurality of products directly in        the store and within a very short period of time without having        to wait for or search for a sales advisor in the store;    -   Make it possible for the client to be able to consult in the        store the opinions of various clients and or users of the        products;    -   Make it possible for the client to be able to consult in the        store the trial and testing results of products by independent        bodies.

Said features taken in combination or not are particularly advantageousin that same provide benefit to the client, inside the stores, of theremote advice of the best specialists of the products and services ormaking available thereto in the stores, of autonomous advisor tools.

According to one embodiment, the communication method of the inventionis used for the sale and the distribution of products in a point of saleand/or of physical distribution to a client physically located in thepoint of sale and/or of physical distribution where said product isfound, noteworthy in that it comprises

-   -   creating a physical reception space of the client,    -   equipping said reception space with means for capturing the        sound and the image of the client inside the reception space,    -   equipping said reception space of the client with remote means        for communicating the images and the sound captured of the        client,    -   equipping said reception space of the client with means for        projecting and displaying images and sound received outside of        the reception space of the client,    -   creating a physical reception space of a physical advisor remote        from the reception space of the client,    -   equipping said reception space of the advisor with means for        projecting and displaying images and sound from the remote        communication means of the reception space of the client,    -   equipping said reception space of the advisor with means for        capturing the sound and images of the advisor in interaction        with the images and the sound of the client from the remote        communication means of the reception space of the client,    -   equipping said reception space of the advisor with direct and        remote communication means to the projection and display means        equipping the reception space of the client, of the images and        of the sound captured of the advisor in interaction with the        images and the sound of the client from the remote communication        of the reception space of the client,    -   having on display means to the client in the reception space of        the client, the images and the sound captured of the advisor in        interaction with the images and the sound captured of the        client.

Thus, a store no longer needs to have a qualified advisor for eachproduct that same sells while continuing to make available said advice.

Said advice may thus be given by persons located in a different store,by the manufacturers of products, by persons hired and trained for saidservice.

The advisor no longer needs to be located in the point of sale. Thanksto the invention, the advisor nevertheless interacts with the images ofthe client. Similarly, the client sees the advisor interact with theimage thereof and may therefore obtain the best possible advice.

According to another feature, the client peripheral unit and the clientthat uses same are located in a physical store for selling products.

Thus, it is understood that the method of the invention makes itpossible to define a new economical and industrial model of the salesand distribution services by relocating, rationalising and optimisingthe service of the advice.

Said advisor service may be particularly optimised by involving personswho may not be usually present or available. Thus, highly specialisedpersons, such as experts, the manufacturers of products or even thedesigners of products may assume said services. For example, when theproducts are clothes, a person trying on an item of clothing of thedesigner of said item of clothing may, thanks to the invention, benefitfrom advice from said designer.

It is then understood that the advisor service and making it availableto clients may be highly valued.

Said advisor service may be dedicated to products of a certain brand orproducts of a certain value.

By restoring the appeal thereof to physical sales areas and by reducingthe operating costs thereof, the invention provides the longevitythereof and not only contributes to the maintenance of jobs but also tothe creation of more advisor jobs.

In the field of the distribution of medicinal products, the inventionoffers the possibility of having the presence of a chemist having avisual contact with the patient without the chemist being physicallypresent. According to another feature of the invention, the product is amedicinal product, the client is a patient, the advisor or advisors area doctor and/or a chemist. The distribution of medicinal productsnotably at night may then be significantly improved without needing themobilisation of a large number of staff.

The area for distributing medicinal products may then consists of anautomatic dispenser supplied by a stock from a chemist, from acommercial structure selling medicinal products, etc.

According to another particularly advantageous feature of the invention,the product may be a material product or a service.

According to another particularly advantageous feature of the invention,the method comprises detecting an interaction between the client and theproduct on sale for purposes of automatically making available in thepoint of sale a means of activation by the client of a remotecommunication with an advisor not physically located close to theclient.

The advisor is then only involved when an interactivity between aproduct and a client is detected and when the client requires same. Theadvisor involved may thus be specialised in the product or the usethereof. The advisor service may be subcontracted.

According to another particularly advantageous feature of the invention,the method comprises detecting the visual interaction of the productwith the client. Indeed, sensor type technical means exist associatedwith or not to an artificial intelligence detecting the direction of theglance of a person or the interest that same may show in one directionin particular. Once the interest for a product has been detected, themethod of the invention may make available to the client a communicationwith an advisor.

According to another particularly advantageous feature of the invention,the method comprises detecting the material interaction, that is to say,the contact between the product and the client. The detection of such aninteraction may be implemented by a plurality of means such as:

-   -   the detection of the contact by a capacitive technology,    -   the detection of the removal of the product from the display        stand thereof,    -   the visual detection of the taking of the product by the client,    -   the detection/recognition of labels and other codes associated        with the product held by the client,    -   etc.

Thus, inside the same shelving, products may be distinguished fromothers depending on whether advice is available or not.

According to another particularly advantageous feature of the invention,each of the advisor or client spaces is fixed or mobile.

According to another particularly advantageous feature of the invention,the method is applied in at least one of the following situations ofrequest for advice or for assistance:

-   -   request for advice for the purchase of a product by        communication of the client with a specialist advisor,    -   request for advice for a health condition by communication        between a patient and a medical advisor,    -   request for advice for a health condition by communication        between a patient caregiver and a medical advisor,    -   request for remote dispensing of medicinal products by        communication between a patient and a chemist and/or a doctor,    -   request for advice for the maintenance of a product by        communication between a user of the product and a specialist of        said latter,    -   request for assistance in the driving of a vehicle by        communication between a passenger or a driver of the vehicle        with a specialist of said driving,    -   request for assistance on a military operations site between a        soldier and a military advisor.

Thus, according to another feature of the invention, the product is avehicle wherein is found the client, the advisor is an expert of saidvehicle and/or of the environment wherein said vehicle moves. In thefield of the distribution of medicinal products, the interactiondetected is located between the patient and the prescription thereofand/or between the patient and the locked enclosure wherein are storedthe medicinal products that may not be sold and therefore removed fromthe enclosure without the intervention of a chemist advisor who hasdialogued beforehand with the patient.

A plurality of other features of the method have been invented for anapplication of the invention to the dispensing of medicinal productswhere according to another feature, the products distributed aremedicinal products and the advisor is a chemist. Indeed, as explainedabove, the method of the invention by proposing a communication and aninteraction with a remote advisor makes it possible to envisage theintervention of a chemist, intervention necessary according to certainlegislations for the dispensing of medicinal products.

For such an application, the invention is noteworthy in that itcomprises the plurality of features listed below to be taken, incombination or not.

The method comprises equipping said reception space with at least one ofthe following means:

-   -   means for reading the social security card,    -   means for reading a prescription,    -   means for reading a payment card.

Said chemist reads the prescription transmitted, processes same andselects the medicinal product or products to be dispensed.

The method comprises checking the dispensing of the prescription withthe health insurance fund to which the client is affiliated. The methodcomprises putting said chemist in contact with a doctor.

The method comprises placing the medicinal products in a locked storageenclosure and transmitting to said chemist the images of the medicinalproducts in the process of being distributed before the removal thereoffrom the storage enclosure in order to retain same by preventing samefrom being dispensed in the event of error.

Furthermore, it is necessary to authorise the chemist to:

-   -   check the identity of the client/patient,    -   check the earlier date of dispensing of the medicinal products,    -   replace the prescribed medicinal products with generics.

The various technical sub-assemblies equipping the client space and thevarious communications provided by said latter make said actionspossible. Also, the fact that the chemist is in connection with thedoctor treating the patient makes it possible to control the veracity ofthe prescription but only in the case where said doctor can becontacted.

To prevent said frauds, another automatic control introduced is thefollowing: the dispenser is equipped with means for establishing adigital connection with the health insurance fund or the health mutualsand for consulting the electronic healthcare sheet sent automatically bythe doctor to the health insurance funds and to the health mutuals aftereach consultation of the patient. Said electronic healthcare sheets arekept in the digital databases of the health insurance funds.

Still in the medical field, according to another particularlyadvantageous feature of the invention, the method comprises equippingsaid reception space of the client with a plurality of means requiringthe presence of a third person using said means at the service of theclient under the orders of said advisor. Said feature of the methodmakes it possible to envisage that in addition to a product such as amedicinal product, the client may seek healthcare that may only becarried out by a third person under the supervision of a doctor notphysically present, by using or not the means located in the receptionspace. The product sought by the client/patient and then distributedwith the authorisation of the medical consultant is therefore aprescription.

According to another particularly advantageous feature of the invention,the method comprises directly transmitting to the advisor, the images ofthe client carrying the product. Such a feature will make it possiblefor the advisor to have a visual contact with the client. In addition,the advisor will be able to obtain the image of the client carrying theproduct in order to make sure that this is in fact the product on whichthe advisor will give the advice and also in order to advise the clientin the handling thereof.

According to another particularly advantageous feature of the invention,the method comprises directly transmitting to the client, the images ofthe advisor. Such a feature will make it possible for the client toestablish a visual contact with the advisor who will be able to carryout a demonstration or apply the advice thereof whilst holding the sameproduct.

For this, according to another particularly advantageous feature of theinvention, the advisor is located in a store and/or a storage locationwith the same shelves and/or the same products as same where the clientis located. Thus, the client sees what the advisor has and is notdisoriented by a change in environment. Similarly, the advisor sees andtherefore knows what the client has therebefore and may guide same ifnecessary towards other products. In addition, according to anotherparticularly advantageous feature, the advisor is in interaction (inconnection/in contact) with other products, which products are ininteraction (in connection/in contact) with the advisor peripheral unit.

According to another particularly advantageous feature of the invention,the method is noteworthy in that it comprises superimposing on a singleimage referred to as superimposition, the images of the advisor and sameof the client and of directly transmitting to the advisor and to theclient said superimposed image showing the advisor in interaction withthe image of the client.

Thus, the client and/or the advisor has a viewing means where sameappears side-by-side with the client. This is a superimposition of imageand not a juxtaposition. The visual background on which appear the twoimages may be constituted indifferently:

-   -   of an image of the physical location where the client is        located,    -   of an image of the physical location where the advisor is        located,    -   of an image of a virtual location.

According to another particularly advantageous feature of the invention,the method is noteworthy in that the image transmitted to the advisor isa virtual image of the client and/or that the image transmitted to theclient is a virtual image of the advisor.

The superimposition of the image and/or the creation of a virtual imageof the contact person are carried out by a software solution or by meansof artificial intelligence. If the client and/or the advisor already hasa virtual image, this virtual image may be used in order to be diffusedon the superimposed image.

According to another particularly advantageous feature of the invention,the method is noteworthy in that it comprises an operation for markingthe product benefitting from an advisor service by means of a visualsign that can be recognised by the detection means and/or by the client.

The invention also relates to the device for implementing such a method.

Such as device associates the detection means with the means for takingviews, projection and display.

According to one particularly advantageous feature of the invention, thedevice is noteworthy in that it comprises at least one client peripheralunit made available to the client and comprising:

-   -   a module containing artificial intelligence enabling same to        interpret and analyse the request of the client,    -   sensors enabling same to dialogue and interact:    -   directly with one or more products,    -   and/or indirectly via the client, which person being in        interaction, in connection (in direct physical contact) with the        product or products,    -   at least one video sensor for filming the client in interaction        (in connection/in contact) with the product or products,    -   means for displaying images, videos and technical data of        products,    -   means for displaying images and/or videos of the advisor in        interaction with the images or videos of the actual client in        interaction with the product or products such that the client        sees the image thereof or videos superimposed with the image or        the video of the advisor in the process of giving same the        analysis thereof and/or the technical expertise on the product        or products.    -   a server central unit that selects the type of advisor        peripheral unit according to the sorting and selection orders        received from the client peripheral unit,    -   at least one other peripheral unit referred to as advisor made        available to an advisor including:    -   a module containing artificial intelligence making it possible        for same to interpret and analyse the advice of the advisor,        which advisor communicates verbally or in writing in natural,        human language,    -   sensors enabling same to dialogue and interact with the advisor,    -   means for displaying images and/or videos of the client in        interaction with the product or products and received from the        client peripheral unit by the advisor peripheral unit,    -   at least one video sensor for filming the advisor in the process        of interacting with the images and/or videos of the actual        client in interaction with the product or products,        which images and/or video of the advisor in interaction with the        images or videos of the client are sent back to the client        peripheral unit and displayed on the display means equipping the        client peripheral unit such that the client sees the image        thereof or videos superimposed with the image or the video of        the advisor in the process of giving same the analysis and the        technical expertise. The client and/or the advisor who may be a        supplier or a manufacturer, communicates the questions thereof        in natural, human, normal language that are analysed by the        interpretation and analysis module equipping the advisor and        client peripheral units.

To implement the various functions, the peripheral units advantageouslycomprise video sensors. Said video sensors such as cameras may be usedto diffuse the image directly to the client and/or to the advisor or toacquire the movements, facial expressions and other physical parametersfor the purposes of diffusion to the client and/or to the advisor of arepresentative and animated virtual image of the contact person thereof.

According to another particularly advantageous feature of the invention,the client peripheral unit is a means for distributing products suppliedas products by a locked product storage area and not accessible for theclient, the distribution of products requiring beforehand the dialoguebetween client and advisor and the authorisation of the advisor. It isunderstood that such a device is suitable for the dispensing of productssuch as medicinal products to clients/patients who will consult achemist not physically present beforehand. It is then normal that themedicinal products are located in a locked storage area not accessiblefor the client which only has access to the medicinal productseffectively dispensed and therefore extracted from said storage area.

The implementation of the real-time transmission of images such asdescribed in the above method steps encounters a plurality ofdifficulties described below:

-   -   When the camera films the advisor in the process of interacting        with the images of the client displayed on the display screen of        the advisor peripheral unit, a time-lag is created between the        image plane of the advisor and the plane of images of the client        displayed,    -   When the camera films the advisor in the process of interacting        with the images of the client displayed on the display screen of        the peripheral unit, a disproportion becomes apparent between        the image of the advisor and the image of the client; the image        of the advisor may seem much larger in relation to same of the        client. To increase the size of the image of the client        displayed on the display means of the peripheral unit of the        advisor, it is possible to zoom in on the camera but the        increase of the size for displaying the client on the display        screen of the advisor peripheral unit makes it necessary to have        a very large display screen with very high purchase prices,    -   the software processing of the images for processing said        time-lags requires a very large and very expensive installation,    -   the possibility of making the advisor move on green screen        requires a very large and very expensive installation and is        detrimental to a true interactivity of the advisor with the        images of the client.

To solve said technical problems, the device of the invention isnoteworthy in that the cameras of the advisor peripheral unit areequipped with specific means.

According to a first feature, in order to raise the image plane of theclient to the level of the image plane of the advisor and solve theproblem of disproportion of the sizes of the client and of the advisor,the camera is equipped with a correction means comprising a bifocalfocus lens, which lens consists of two half-lenses (symmetrical or not)of different dioptries or of different magnifications and the gluing(assembly) axis of which is located in a plane perpendicular to the axisof the lens of the camera.

This bifocal focus lens is mounted or glued on the face of the lens ofthe cameras of the advisor space. When an observer faces the lens of thecamera, the dioptry of the lens or the magnification of the lens mayvary increasingly from left to right and vice versa. The lens may beprovided with a means for rotating same about same at 360° or for movingfrom left to right so as to make move from left to right or from rightto left the assembly axis of the two half-lenses. The correction meansconsists of a half-lens of a dioptry or of a magnification other thanthe air, the other half being the free air.

According to another feature, the correction means consists of aprogressive lens of a dioptry or of a magnification varying from left toright increasingly or decreasingly for an observer facing the lens ofthe advisor camera.

The fundamental concepts of the invention being above disclosed in themost elementary form thereof, other details and features will becomemore clearly apparent upon reading the following description and withregard to the appended drawings, giving by way of non-limiting examples,embodiments of methods and devices according to the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of a flow chart illustrating oneembodiment of a device according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing illustrating the functional modules of oneembodiment of a peripheral unit or console made available to the client;

FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing illustrating the functional modules of oneembodiment of a peripheral unit or console that the advisor has;

FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing illustrating the functional modules of oneembodiment of a peripheral unit that the manufacturer or the supplier ofthe product has;

FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing of a flow chart illustrating theinteractions for the implementation of a distribution of medicinalproducts;

FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing of a flow chart illustrating theinteractions for the implementation of a medical consultation;

FIG. 7 is a schematic drawing of one embodiment of a bifocal lensaccording to the invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic drawing of one embodiment of a method implementedin accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As illustrated on the drawing in FIG. 1, the client CL1 is in direct (byphysical touching) or indirect (capturing of the glance on the product)interaction with one or more products P1 to Pn. The client CL1 alsointeracts with the peripheral unit or console UPCL1. Indeed, asillustrated on the drawing in FIG. 2, said peripheral unit UPCL1comprises means (sensors, sound sensors, touch screen, screen withkeypad, artificial intelligence, product code reader) making it possiblefor same to dialogue with the client CL1. Said dialogue may be carriedout verbally or in writing. The client CL1 may communicate in natural,human, normal language. Without communication from the client CL1, theactual peripheral unit may make available to the client CL1 a servicefor advice or an information signal that an advisor service isavailable.

The peripheral unit UPCL1 also comprises:

-   -   a module for displaying the technical data of products,    -   a module for displaying the client and advisor or        manufacturer/supplier assemblies,    -   a module for interpreting and analysing the request of the        client.

The products P1 to Pn may be in direct or indirect interaction withUPCL1. For this, the products may be equipped with codes/elements ofrecognition for the identification thereof by identification meansequipping the peripheral unit UPCL1 or by the client.

The client CL1 issues or not the request thereof (verbal or written orproduct code reading, etc.) on the peripheral unit UPCL1. The peripheralunit UPCL1 processes the interaction data and the request of the clientand generates the conditions for sorting, selecting and processing thedata and sends same to the central unit of the server SDTC1. The serverSDTC1 selects the type of product and the advisor peripheral unit UPCO1or corresponding manufacturer or supplier peripheral unit UPF1.

The advisor peripheral unit UPCO1 is in relation with at least oneadvisor CO1. As illustrated on the drawing in FIG. 3, said advisorperipheral unit UPCO1 comprises:

-   -   a module for displaying the client assembly ECL,    -   a plurality of sensors,    -   a module for interpreting and analysing the advice of the        advisor CO1,    -   a module for displaying the technical data of products.

The manufacturer or supplier peripheral unit UPF1 is in relation with atleast one technical person F1 of the manufacturer or supplier.

As illustrated on the drawing in FIG. 4, the peripheral unit of themanufacturer or of the supplier UPF1 comprises as UPCO1:

-   -   a module for displaying the client assembly ECL and the        manufacturer/supplier assembly,    -   a plurality of sensors,    -   a module for interpreting and analysing the response of the        supplier F1 or of the client CL1,    -   a module for displaying the technical data of products.

A communication is then created between the client CL1 and the advisorCO1 or the technical or commercial person of the manufacturer orsupplier F1.

Of course, the server SDTC1 may send back technical data of the productsand/or comparisons of various products and/or opinions of clients and/orthe results of trials and tests directly to the client CL and on theperipheral unit UPCL1 and this, without having to query UPCO1 or UPF1.

The server unit SDTC1 contains technical and commercial data from theactual stores, manufacturers and/or suppliers of products, consultancycompanies, clients and trial and testing bodies. Said data is constantlyupdated.

Of course, a plurality of peripheral units may exist, a plurality ofunits referred to as servers that are mutually in relation by digitalconnection.

These units referred to as servers may be in relation with servers orwebsites in order to collect other technical and commercial data,opinions of clients, results of tests and trials of products.

The peripheral units UPCL1, UPCO1, UPF1 may also be mutually in directconnection by digital connection.

The peripheral unit UPCO1 comprises means (sensors, sound sensors, touchscreen, screen with keypad, artificial intelligence, product codereader) making it possible for same to dialogue with the advisor CO1.Said dialogue may be carried out verbally or in writing. The advisor CO1like the client CL1 may communicate in natural, human, normal language.

The peripheral unit UPF1 comprises means (sensors, sound sensors, touchscreen, screen with keypad, artificial intelligence, product codereader) making it possible for same to dialogue with the technicalperson F1. Said dialogue may be carried out verbally or in writing. Thestaff F1 may communicate in natural, human, normal language.

A more global but also more precise operation is illustrated by thedrawing in FIG. 8.

According to said FIG. 8, the client space 100 receives the client CL1as well as means for displaying images and sounds 110. The product space200 receives the products P1, P2, . . . Pn. Said two spaces may ofcourse communicate.

Associated with said two spaces 100 and 200, an image and sound capturespace 300 equipped with sensors 310, 320, 330, etc., provides the takingof images and of sounds in the client spaces 100 and product spaces 200.From said sensors is found the CVUPCL1 video camera appearing in FIG. 1.Said image and sound capture space 300 may be confused with the clientspaces 100 and/or product spaces 200. Said sensors communicate by adigital connection 340 the images and the sound captured to an advisorspace 400 that receives the advisor CO1. Said advisor space 400 isequipped with means for displaying images and sounds 410. Said advisorspace 400 is associated with a space 500 that recaptures the images andthe sound in the advisor space 400 by means of sensors 510, 520, 530 inorder to film the advisor CO1 in interaction with the videos diffused bythe means 410. Said recapture space 500 may be confused with the advisorspace 400. The sensors 510, 520, 530, etc., of the recapture space 500communicate by means of the connection 540 the images and the soundscaptured in the advisor space 400 to the display means 110 of the clientspace 100. From said sensors is found the CVUPC01 video camera appearingin FIG. 1. In accordance with the invention, the client CL1 then sees anadvisor CO1 interact with the image thereof and/or with same of theproduct.

The communication and the connection between the sub-assemblies may varyaccording to the applications. Thus, for example, the connections mayall pass through the Internet network and/or a wired or wireless localIntranet network. In addition, master/slave architectures may beestablished.

Moreover, some sub-assemblies may be mobile in order to follow theadvisor CO1 or the client CL1 or the product P1 to Pn that interestssame.

For example, a portable case carried by the advisor CO1 may gathertogether the means for receiving and displaying images and sounds of theclient and/or of the product and sensors for recapturing images of theadvisor CO1 interacting with the images displayed on the display meansof the case.

Furthermore, what is designated as the product P1 to Pn may also vary asbecomes apparent upon reading the examples described below. The examplebelow is based on an application of the invention to a store sellingclothes.

The client CL1 chooses the clothes P1 to Pn that same wants.

The client CL1 wears the clothes chosen.

The client CL1 stands in front of the peripheral unit UPCL1, whichrecognises the product or products worn by the client CL1. Theperipheral unit UPCL1 films the client CL1 wearing the clothes (thanksat least to the camera CVUPCL1) and queries the server unit SDTC1, whichin return searches for and selects the corresponding clothingconsultancy company (relooking, best stylist, for example) and will putin relation the client peripheral unit UPCL1 with the advisor peripheralunit UPCO1. The actual advisor peripheral unit UPCO1 enters intorelation with the advisor CO1 in order to make possible the dialoguebetween the client CL1 and the advisor CO1. The images and/or the videosof the client CL1 wearing the product or products are displayed on theadvisor peripheral unit UPCO1. The advisor CO1 interacts with the imagesor videos of the client CL1 wearing the clothes and displayed on UPCO1,enters into dialogue with the client CL1 and gives same advice and showssame, for example, the places (parts of the clothes) that fit well ornot the client CL1, make same try on other clothes, indicates theretocolours to choose.

The camera CVUPCO1 films the advisor in interaction with the image orthe video displayed on the peripheral unit UPCO1. Said camera thereforecaptures the images and the sound of the advisor in interaction with theimages of the client with the product.

On the peripheral unit UPCL1, the client CL1 then sees the own imagethereof or video wearing the clothes and superimposed with the images ofthe advisor CO1 in the process of giving same the advice. The peripheralunit UPCL1, the camera CVUPCL1 and the client assembly ECL may belocated inside the actual changing room located in the store.

A video screen is then located in the room referred to as client roomthat comprises means for displaying the images of the clientsuperimposed with the images of the advisor, which advisor is ininteraction with the images of the client.

Said means further make it possible to display the various profiles ofthe client on the screen without the client having to turn back andforth. Said means make it possible for the advisor to select and displayon the screen of the room referred to as advisor, the imagescorresponding to a given profile of the client filmed by the cameraslocated in the room referred to as client, which profiles being front,back, right, left, head and feet profiles. Said means make it possiblefor the advisor to interact with a specific area of the body of theclient in order to dispense thereof suitable advice. The selection ofsaid profiles may be carried out manually by the advisor orautomatically. In said latter case, said means may be equipped withartificial intelligence for interpreting the speech of the advisor, forrecognising in said speech the type of profiles of images of the clientto display.

The room referred to as client may also comprise means for capturingphotographs, recording images of the advisor in interaction with theimages of the client and optionally means for printing and/or sendingsaid captured images on other media.

Of course, the various profiles of images of the client may be displayedon the screen located in the client room, recorded or sent without theimages of the advisor.

The images displayed on the client screen or on the advisor screen maybe three-dimensional images and the cameras that film may also becameras filming according to three dimensions.

The room referred to as client constituting the reception space of theclient may be located in a sales store, at the home of the client, in anaircraft, on a boat, in a vehicle on another planet. The room referredto as advisor constituting the reception space of the advisor may belocated in a sales store, at the home of the advisor, in an aircraft, ona boat, in a vehicle on another planet. The example below is based on anapplication of the invention to a store selling products other thanclothes and the client only wants to consult some technical data.

The client CL1 chooses the product or products P1 to Pn that same wants.

The client will scan using a mobile scanner or on the client peripheralunit UPCL1, the code or codes of the product or products and will issueon the peripheral unit UPCL1 a request. Said request may concern thetechnical features of the product or products, the operation of theproduct or products, the opinions of the user or users of the product orproducts, the results of the tests or trials of the product or products,the comparison of the various products. The peripheral unit UPCL1 willrecognise the product or products chosen by the client, will analyse andinterpret the request of the client and will query the server unit SDTC1that in return will search for and select the data on the technicalfeatures of the product or products, the operation of the product orproducts, the opinions of the user or users of the product or products,the results of the tests and trials of the product or products, thecomparison of the various products. The unit referred to as server SDTC1will send back the results of the request on the client peripheral unitUPCL1 that will communicate same to the client CL1 in sound form and/oron screen display form.

An example of distribution of medicinal products according to the methodof the invention is illustrated by the diagram in FIG. 5 thatillustrates the various interactions.

The various elements constituting the device for implementing the methodare distributed in the following manner:

Product P1=medicinal products;

Client CL1=sick person;

CL1 provided with means of the identification thereof (healthcare card,prescription, mutual card, bank card);

Advisor CO1=doctor of the sick person or CO1' remote medical consultant;

F1=remote chemist;

UPCL1 located in the medicinal product dispenser;

UPCO1 located with the medical consultant CO1;

UPF1 located with the chemist F1.

The steps of the method are the following:

The patient CL1 is equipped with one or more of the following elements:

-   -   medical prescription,    -   social security card,    -   mutual card,    -   payment bank card,    -   coin or banknote

Thus, same is identified with the social security card thereof or themutual card thereof or other means;

The patient CL1 inserts the medical prescription thereof into thescanner provided for this purpose;

An audio-video contact is established between the patient CL1 and thechemist F1;

The chemist F1 who is located remotely is equipped with one or more ofthe following elements:

-   -   means for receiving medical prescriptions,    -   means for sending new prescriptions or modified prescriptions,    -   means for remotely selecting the medicinal products to be        dispensed,    -   means for receiving the optical control results of the medicinal        products for verification of the medicinal products before        dispensing,    -   means for controlling the remote dispensing of medicinal        products,    -   means for controlling the remote dispensing of medicinal        products,    -   audio-video dialogue means.

Thus, the chemist F1 receives the scanned prescription of the patientCL1 with identification of the contact details of the prescribing doctorCO1 for any contacts;

The chemist F1 analyses and inspects the prescription in order to detectany prescription errors;

If an error is detected and the error is negligible the chemist F1corrects the error;

If an error is detected and the error needs to be corrected by a doctor,the chemist F1 enters into audio-video contact and dialogue with theprescribing doctor (doctor of the patient CO1) or failing this withanother medical consultant CO1'. The dialogue may also be three-partyand may involve the patient CL1 with a possibility of the audio-videodialogue with the prescribing doctor CO1 or failing this a medicalconsultant CO1' with the patient CL1; The doctors are equipped withmeans for audio-video dialogue and means for sending and receivingmedical prescriptions.

The prescribing doctor CO1 or failing this the medical consultant CO1'corrects the prescription or gives the agreement thereof to the chemistso that said latter corrects the prescription. A new prescription may beissued by the prescribing doctor or failing this by the medicalconsultant;

Once the medical prescription has been analysed or any correctionscompleted, the chemist Fl issues an order for selecting the medicinalproducts to be dispensed, which order is remotely transmitted to theautomatic dispenser that carries out the physical selection of themedicinal products;

The chemist F1 remotely controls the nature of the medicinal products tobe dispensed thanks to optical control means equipping the automaticdispenser UPCL1;

The automatic medicinal products dispenser UPCL1 is equipped with one ormore of the following elements:

-   -   prescription scanner,    -   social security card scanner or reader,    -   insurance card scanner or reader,    -   bank card payment terminal,    -   bank note or coin payment terminal,    -   audio-video dialogue means,    -   means for storing medicinal products,    -   means for sorting and selecting medicinal products,    -   means for printing new medical prescriptions or modified medical        prescriptions,    -   means for optically controlling medicinal products before        dispensing,    -   means for dispensing medicinal products to the patient,    -   means for affixing the mark for dispensing the medicinal        products (mark that may contain the name of the dispenser, the        date and the time of dispensing, etc.)

If there is payment of medicinal products, the payment order isindicated to the patient CL1;

The medicinal products remotely controlled by the chemist F1 are finallydispensed to the patient CL1;

The medicinal product dispensing mark is affixed on the prescription;

The prescription is returned to the patient CL1. If there was aprescription modification, a printout is produced of the new modifiedprescription.

An example of implementation of a medical consultation/remote medicalconsultancy service according to the method of the invention isillustrated by the diagram in FIG. 6 that illustrates the variousinteractions.

According to a first configuration (same illustrated), the consultationis carried out in the physical presence of a doctor or nurse in the samelocation as the patient. The product is then a patient, the client is adoctor or a nurse/requestor of advice and the advisor is an expertdoctor. The various elements constituting the device for implementingthe method are distributed in the following manner:

Product P1=patient or sick person;

Client CL1=doctor or nurse located in the same location as the sickperson;

Said client CL1 is provided with means (sensors) for examining the sickperson P1 (thus as explained above the word product may also designate aperson);

Advisor CO1=doctor or expert doctor or remote specialist doctor; CL1, P1and UPCL1 are located with the sick person P1 or with the doctor ornurse CL1 or in a medical room C or a medical centre (clinic, hospital,health centre, etc.).

The patients and doctors are equipped with the same elements as samedescribed in the previous example.

Said medical room is equipped with one or more of the followingelements:

-   -   prescription scanner,    -   means for printing medical prescriptions,    -   social security card scanner or reader,    -   insurance card scanner or reader,    -   bank card payment terminal,    -   bank note or coin payment terminal,    -   audio-video dialogue means,    -   means and sensors for the examination of the patient:    -   thermometer,    -   blood pressure monitor,    -   stethoscope,    -   endoscope,    -   any other means for examining the patient.

The method then makes it possible, for example, for nurses to consultthe patients with a remote assistance from an authorised doctor thanksto a three-party audio-video dialogue between the patient, nurse and thedoctor; the nurse receiving remote orders from the doctor. Said ordersconcern the type of measurements (or examination) to be carried out onthe patient, the actions to be taken. Once all of the examinations havebeen performed directly with the doctor, said latter establishes amedical diagnosis and sends a medical prescription with the list ofmedicinal products to be taken by the patient and/or a recommendation ofadditional analyses to be carried out. The medical prescription and/orthe document for the additional analysis (then constituting the productdistributed) received in the medical room for consultation by the nursethanks to the digital connections between the remote medical room andthe consultation office wherein the nurse is located. The prescriptionand/or the additional analysis document is printed out by the nurse andgiven to the patient.

The nurse is in direct interaction with the patient.

According to a second configuration not illustrated, the consultation iscarried out in the physical absence of a doctor or nurse in the samelocation as the sick person. The product consists of measurement means(body temperatures, blood pressure, heart beats, etc.), the client is apatient and the advisor is an expert doctor. The various elementsconstituting the device for implementing the method are distributed inthe following manner:

Client CL1=sick person;

Product P1=measurement means (body temperatures, blood pressure, heartbeats, etc.);

Advisor CO1=doctor or expert doctor or remote specialist doctor; UPCL1located with the sick person.

The sick person CL1 is then directly put in contact with the doctor CO1located remotely.

The example below is based on an application of the invention to theindustrial maintenance. The product is then an item of equipment, aproduct, an infrastructure, the client is a repair maintenance operatorand the advisor is an expert in said equipment, product, infrastructure.It is not specifically illustrated but repeats the principlesillustrated by the drawing in FIG. 1. The various elements constitutingthe device for implementing the method are distributed in the followingmanner:

Product P1 to Pn=equipment, products (buildings, boats, aerial vehicles,land vehicles, any rolling or flying machines, etc.), infrastructure;

Client CL1=maintenance operator, repair operator;

CL1 provided with means for repairing products P1 to Pn;

Advisor CO1=expert, remote specialist;

F1=remote manufacturer of P1 to Pn;

May have a plurality of cameras CVUPCL1;

Cameras CVUPCL1 that may be selected or may be controlled remotely byCO1 or F1;

Mobile or fixed UPCL1;

Mobile or fixed camera CVUPCL1 and audio sensor;

Camera CVUPCL1 and audio sensor that may be carried by client CL1 ormounted on drone or mounted on mobile robot;

Camera CVUPCL1 that may film the products P1 to PN+the entire body ofCL1;

Camera CVUPCL1 that may film the products P1 to PN+a portion of CL1 (thearms and hands, for example);

Camera that may film the products P1 to Pn but without filming theclient CL1;

Display screen equipping mobile or fixed UPCL1, mounted on UPCL1 orseparate from UPCL1 but digitally connected,

Display screen equipping UPCL1 that may be carried by the client CL1,

Display screen equipping UPCL1 that may be integrated into the glassesworn by the client CL1,

The example below is based on an application of the invention to theassistance with the driving of vehicles. It is not specificallyillustrated but repeats the principles illustrated by the drawing inFIG. 1. The various elements constituting the device for implementingthe method are distributed in the following manner:

Product P1=product inside of which is located the client CL1, i.e. herea vehicle (boats, aerial vehicles, land vehicles, any rolling or flyingmachine, etc.),

Client space=Environment wherein moves the client CL1 and/or the productP1,

(P3+P4+P5+ . . . +Pn=other products equivalent to P1+mobile or fixedobstacles located in the environment P2)

Client CL1=pilot, driver or passenger of P1,

CL1 installed inside the product P1,

Advisor CO1=expert, remote specialist knowing the product P1, P2, P3 . .. Pn well,

F1=manufacturer of P1 to Pn, remote expert,

A plurality of cameras CVUPCL1 may be installed inside and outside ofthe products P1 to Pn,

Cameras CVUPCL1 that may be controlled remotely by CO1 or F1;

UPCL1 installed inside P1 and may form an integral part of the productP1,

A portion of the Camera CVUPCL1 and audio sensor being mobile or fixed,

A portion of the Camera CVUPCL1 and audio sensor being carried by theclient CL1,

Camera CVUPCL1 that may film the environment P2 wherein move theproducts P1 and P3 to Pn+the entire body of CL1+a portion or all of theproduct P1,

Camera CVUPCL1 that may film the environment P2 wherein move theproducts P1 and P3 to Pn+a portion of CL1 (the arms and hands, forexample)+a portion or all of the product P1 to Pn

Camera that may film the products a portion or all of the P1 to Pn butwithout filming the client CL1,

Display screen equipping mobile or fixed UPCL1, mounted on UPCL1 orseparate from UPCL1 but digitally connected,

Display screen equipping UPCL1 that may be carried by the client CL1,

Display screen equipping UPCL1 that may be integrated into the glassesworn by the client CL1,

During such an application, the advisor may take the control of thevehicle under the supervision or not of the client.

The example below is based on an application of the invention tomilitary combats. It is not specifically illustrated but repeats theprinciples illustrated by the drawing in FIG. 1.

The various elements constituting the device for implementing the methodare distributed in the following manner:

Product P1=product inside of which is located the client CL1=flying orrolling vehicles=boats, aerial vehicles, land vehicles, any rolling orflying machine, etc.);

P2=Environment wherein moves the client and/or the product P1 P3+P4+P5+. . . +Pn=other products equivalent to P1+mobile or fixed obstacleslocated in the environment P2;

Client CL1=military;

Client CL1 may not be inside P1;

CL1 installed inside product P1 or client moving in the environment P2;

Advisor CO1=expert, remote specialist knowing the product P1 and P3 . .. Pn well;

F1=manufacturer of P1 to Pn, remote expert;

P3+P4+P5+ . . . +Pn=may be products or enemy targets located in theenvironment P2 and to be destroyed by the client CL1;

A plurality of cameras CVUPCL1 may be installed inside and outside ofthe products P1;

Cameras CVUPCL1 that may be controlled remotely by CO1 or F1;

UPCL1 installed inside P1 and forms part of the product P1;

UPCL1 may be mobile or fixed;

UPCL1 may be carried by the client CL1;

Camera CVUPCL1 that may be a 360° camera mounted on the helmet of CL1;

A portion of the mobile or fixed camera CVUPCL1 and audio sensor;

A portion of the camera CVUPCL1 and audio sensor carried by client CL1

Camera CVUPCL1 that may film the environment P2 wherein move theproducts P1 and P3 to Pn+the entire body of CL1)+a portion or all of theproduct P1;

Camera CVUPCL1 that may film the environment wherein move the productsP1 to PN+a portion of CL1 (the arms and hands, for example)+a portion orall of the product P1 to Pn;

Camera that may film the products a portion or all of the P1 to Pn butwithout filming the client CL1;

Display screen equipping mobile or fixed UPCL1, mounted on UPCL1 orseparate from UPCL1 but digitally connected,

Display screen equipping UPCL1 that may be carried by the client CL1,

Display screen equipping UPCL1 that may be integrated into the glassesworn by the CL1;

As explained above, the real-time exchange of images as well as thedifficulty in displaying the image of the advisor interacting with theimages of the client have led the applicants to propose an opticalsolution illustrated by the drawing in FIG. 7.

Indeed, the cameras CVUPCO1 and CVUPF1 are equipped on the lens thereofwith specific means for solving the problems described above. Thus, inorder to raise the image plane of CL1 to the level of the image plane ofCO1 or F1 and solve the problem of disproportion of the sizes of theclient CL1 and of the advisor CO1 or manufacturer F1, the camera CVUPCO1or CVUPF1 is equipped with a correction means comprising a bifocal focuslens 700, which lens consists of two half-lenses 710 and 720(symmetrical or not) of different dioptries or of differentmagnifications and the gluing (assembly) axis 730 of which is located ina plane perpendicular to the axis of the lens of the camera CVUPCO1 orCVUPF1 and which bifocal focus lens is mounted or glued on the face ofthe lens of the cameras CVUPCO1 or CVUPF1. When an observer faces thelens of the camera, the dioptry of the lens or the magnification of thelens may vary increasingly from left to right and vice versa. The lensmay be provided with means for rotating same about same at 360° or formoving from left to right so as to make move from left to right or fromright to left the assembly axis of the two half-lenses.

It is understood that the method and the device, which have beendescribed and shown above, have been so in view of a disclosure ratherthan of a limitation. Of course, various adjustments, modifications andimprovements may be made to the above example, without departing fromthe scope of the invention.

For better understanding of the drawings, a list of references with thelegend thereof is provided below:

CVUPCL1: video sensor equipping the client peripheral unit and forfilming the client CL1 in interaction with the products P1 to Pn,

P1: Product 1,

Pn: Product n,

CL1: client 1,

UPCL1: peripheral unit connected to the client 1,

SDTC1: Technical and commercial data server no. 1,

UPCO1: advisor peripheral unit no. 1 and connected to the advisor CO1,

CO1: advisor no. 1,

CVUPCO1: video sensor equipping the advisor peripheral unit no. 1 forfilming the advisor CO1 in interaction with the actual client CL1 ininteraction with the products P1 to Pn,

CVUPF1: sensor equipping the supplier peripheral unit 1 for filming theperson of the manufacturer or supplier in interaction with the productsP1 to Pn and said actual person in interaction with the actual clientCL1 who is in interaction with the products P1 to Pn,

F1: supplier or manufacturer no. 1,

UPF1: manufacturer or supplier peripheral unit no. 1,

SDF1: manufacturer or supplier data server no. 1,

ECL: client assembly consisting of the client CL1 and the products P1 toPn,

ECO: advisor assembly consisting of the advisor 1 and the products P1 toPn,

EF: supplier or manufacturer assembly consisting of the supplier ormanufacturer no. 1 and the products P1 to Pn.

1. Real-time communication method between at least one person referredto as client located in or moving through a real physical space known asclient space and at least one remote person referred to as advisorlocated in or moving through a real physical space known as advisorspace for the real-time provision by the advisor to the client ofinstructions and indications regarding design, production, use,utilisation, repair, maintenance, consultation, localisation,destruction, disposal, localisation and elimination, guidance of one ormore products located in or moving through a real physical spacereferred to as product space, which client space is provided with one ormore means for receiving and displaying images, which display means arepositioned at a distance clearly defined in relation to the client suchas to enable same to clearly see the images displayed, which advisorspace is provided with one or more means for receiving and displayingimages, the method comprising: carrying out a capture of the images andof the sounds of the client in the client space thereof, and/or of theproducts in the product space thereof, and/or of the client and of theproducts in the client space and the product space, by means of imagesensors and sound sensors, which mobile and/or fixed image and soundsensors are located in or move through a real physical space referred toas image capture space, transmitting thanks to digital connections(wired and/or wireless) said images and sounds captured to the advisor,displaying said images received on display means located in the advisorspace, positioning the advisor next to said images displayed such as toenable same to interact on the images displayed either directly orindirectly via pointing means of laser or stick type, recapturing theimages and the sounds from the advisor in interaction with the imagesdisplayed on display means located in the advisor space via sensorslocated in a real physical space referred to as advisor image recapturespace, which recapture sensors are dimensioned and positioned at adefined distance in relation to the means for displaying images locatedin the advisor space such that: on one hand, to only recapture theimages displayed on the display means of the advisor space and theentire body of the advisor in interaction with the images displayed andwithout the advisor space or the images displayed on the display meansof the advisor space and a portion of the body of the advisor ininteraction with the images displayed and without the advisor space orthe images displayed on the display means of the advisor space and thepointing means of the advisor in interaction with the images displayedand without the advisor space, on the other hand, such as to prevent thedistortion of images related to image recaptures displayed on thescreens, to directly transmit said images and sounds recaptured by theimage and sound sensors located in the advisor image recapture space tothe client thanks to digital connections (wired and/or wireless) and todisplay said images received on display means located in the clientspace, such that the client sees the advisor move either in the clientspace, or in the product space.
 2. The method according to claim 1,wherein the client space is identical to the product space.
 3. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the client space is identical tothe image capture space.
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein theclient space, the image capture space and the product space areidentical.
 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the word productdesignates at least one of the following categories: inert physicalproducts, living physical products, living beings (humans or animals).6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the client is in directphysical contact with the product or products.
 7. The method accordingto claim 1, wherein the client is in indirect physical contact with theproduct or products.
 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein theimage and sound sensors located in or moving through the image capturespace are mounted on land or maritime flying machines.
 9. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the client issues, before the operationsof the method, a request for provision of instructions and indicationsregarding design, production, use, utilisation, repair, maintenance,consultation, localisation, destruction, disposal, localisation andelimination, and guidance of one or more products with the advisor. 10.The method according to claim 1, wherein the client makes the searchrequest thereof verbally or in writing in natural, human language on aperipheral unit referred to as client (UPCL1) integrated into the clientspace and/or into the product space, which client peripheral unit isequipped with: a module containing artificial intelligence enabling sameto interpret and analyse the request of the client (CL1), sensorsenabling same to dialogue and interact: directly with one or moreproducts (P1 to Pn) and/or indirectly via the client (CL1), which clientbeing in interaction, in connection (in direct physical contact) withthe product or products (P1 to Pn), at least one video sensor (CVUPCL1)for filming the client (CL1) in interaction, in connection (contact)with the product or products (P1 to Pn), means for displaying images,videos and technical data of products (P1 to Pn), which clientperipheral unit (UPCL1) identifies the type of product (P1 to Pn),analyses, processes, interprets the request of the client (CL1) andgenerates the sorting and selection conditions that same sends to atleast one central unit referred to as server (SDTC1), which servercentral unit (SDTC1) may contain data on the type of products (P1 to Pn)and data on the peripheral units referred to as advisors (UPCO1) withwhich same is in digital connection and data on the advisor (CO1) ormanufacturer (F1), and which server central unit (SDTC1), afterreception of the sorting and selection conditions, selects the type ofadvisor peripheral unit (UPCO1) capable of responding to the requestfrom the client peripheral unit (UPCL1) and from the client (CL1) suchas to make it possible for the advisor peripheral unit (UPCO1) selectedto receive the images and/or videos of the client (CL1) in interaction,in connection, in contact with the product or products (P1 to Pn), andwhich advisor peripheral unit (UPCO1), selected enters into directconnection with a person referred to as advisor (CO1) (expert,specialist in the product and the use thereof) so as to make possiblethe dialogue between the client (CL1) and the advisor (CO1), whichadvisor peripheral unit (UPCO1) is equipped with: a module containingartificial intelligence enabling same to interpret and analyse theadvice of the advisor (CO1), which advisor (CO1) may communicateverbally or in writing in natural, human language, sensors enabling sameto dialogue and interact with the advisor (CO1), means for displayingimages and/or videos of the client (CL1) in interaction, in connectionwith the product or products (P1 to Pn), and received from the clientperipheral unit (UPCL1) by the advisor peripheral unit (UPCO1), at leastone video sensor for filming the advisor (CO1) in the process ofinteracting with the images and/or videos of the actual client (CL1) ininteraction (in connection/in contact) with the product or products (P1to Pn), which images and/or videos of the advisor (CO1) in interactionwith the images or videos of the client (CL1) are sent back to theclient peripheral unit (UPCL1) and displayed on the display meansequipping the client peripheral unit (UPCL1) such that the client (CL1)sees the image thereof or videos superimposed with the image or thevideo of the advisor (CO1) in the process of giving same the analysisand the technical expertise.
 11. The method according to claim 10,wherein the client peripheral unit (UPCL1) communicates directly withthe advisor peripheral unit (UPCO1) without passing through the centralunit referred to as server (SDTC1).
 12. The method according to claim10, wherein the advisor peripheral unit (Co1) enters into relation withother advisor peripheral units (CO1, UPF1) via or not one or moreintermediate servers.
 13. The method according to claim 10, wherein theadvisor (CO1 or F1) is in interaction (in connection/in contact) withother products (P1 to Pn), which products are in interaction (inconnection/in contact) with the advisor peripheral unit (UPCO1, UPF1).14. The method according to claim 10, wherein the client peripheral unit(UPCL1) and the client (CL1) that uses same are located in a physicalstore for selling products (P1 to Pn).
 15. The method according to claim10, wherein the products (P1 to Pn) are clothes.
 16. The methodaccording to claim 10, wherein the products (P1 to Pn) are mutually inconnection.
 17. The method according to claim 10, wherein the products(P1 to Pn) are equipped with means for the recognition thereof or theidentification thereof by the peripheral unit (UPCL1).
 18. The methodaccording to claim 10, wherein each of the advisor or client spaces isfixed or mobile.
 19. The method according to claim 10, wherein themethod is applied in at least one of the following situations of requestfor advice or for assistance: request for advice for the purchase of aproduct by communication of the client with a specialist advisor,request for advice for a health condition by communication between apatient and a medical advisor, request for advice for a health conditionby communication between a patient caregiver and a medical advisor,request for remote dispensing of medicinal products by communicationbetween a patient and a chemist and/or a doctor, request for advice forthe maintenance of a product by communication between a user of theproduct and a specialist of said latter, request for assistance in thedriving of a vehicle by communication between a passenger or a driver ofthe vehicle with a specialist of said driving, request for assistance ona military operations site between a soldier and a military advisor. 20.Communication device for implementing the method according to claim 10,further comprising at least one client peripheral unit (UPCL1) madeavailable to the client (CL1) and comprising: a module containingartificial intelligence enabling same to interpret and analyse therequest of the client (CL1), sensors enabling same to dialogue andinteract: directly with one or more products (P1 to Pn), and/orindirectly via the client (CL1), which person being in interaction, inconnection (in direct physical contact) with the product or products (P1to Pn), at least one video sensor (CVUPCL1) for filming the client (CL1)in interaction (in connection/in contact) with the product or products(P1 to Pn), means for displaying images, videos and technical data ofproducts (P1 to Pn), means for displaying images and/or videos of theadvisor (CO1, F1) in interaction with the images or videos of the actualclient (CL1) in interaction with the product or products (P1 to Pn) suchthat the client (CL1) sees the image thereof or videos superimposed withthe image or the video of the advisor (CO1, F1) in the process of givingsame the analysis thereof and/or the technical expertise on the productor products (P1 to Pn), a server central unit (SDTC1) that selects thetype of advisor peripheral unit (UPCO1, UPF1) according to the sortingand selection orders received from the client peripheral unit (UPCL1),at least one other peripheral unit (UPCO1, UPF1) referred to as advisormade available to an advisor (CO1, F1) including: a module containingartificial intelligence making it possible for same to interpret andanalyse the advice of the advisor (CO1, F1), which advisor communicatesverbally or in writing in natural, human language, sensors enabling sameto dialogue and interact with the advisor (CO1, F1), means fordisplaying images and/or videos of the client (CL1) in interaction withthe product or products (P1 to Pn), and received from the clientperipheral unit (UPCL1) by the advisor peripheral unit (UPCO1), at leastone video sensor for filming the advisor (CO1, F1) in the process ofinteracting with the images and/or videos of the actual client (CL1) ininteraction with the product or products (P1 to Pn), which images and/orvideos of the advisor (CO1, F1) in interaction with the images or videosof the client (CL1) are sent back to the client peripheral unit (UPCL1)and displayed on the display means equipping the client peripheral unit(UPCL1) such that the client (CL1) sees the image thereof or videossuperimposed with the image or the video of the advisor (CO1, F1) in theprocess of giving same the analysis and the technical expertise.
 21. Thedevice according to claim 20, wherein the product (P1) is a patient, theclient (C11) is a doctor or a nurse/requester of advice and the advisor(CO1) is an expert doctor.
 22. The device according to claim 20, whereinthe product (P1) consists of measurement means (body temperatures, bloodpressure, heart beats, etc.), the client (C11) is a patient and theadvisor (CO1) is an expert doctor.
 23. The device according to claim 20,wherein the product (P1) is a medicinal product, the client (CL1) is apatient, the advisor or advisors (CO1) are a doctor and/or a chemist.24. The device according to claim 20, wherein the product (P1) is anitem of equipment, a product, an infrastructure, the client (CL1) is arepair maintenance operator and the advisor (CO1) is an expert in saidequipment, product, infrastructure.
 25. The device according to claim20, wherein the product (P1) is a vehicle wherein is found the client(C11), the advisor (CO1) is an expert of said vehicle and/or of theenvironment wherein said vehicle (P1) moves.
 26. The device according toclaim 20, wherein the client peripheral unit (UPCL1) is a means fordistributing products supplied as products by a locked product storagearea and not accessible for the client (CL1), the distribution ofproducts requiring beforehand the dialogue between client (CL1) andadvisor (CO1, F1) and the authorisation of the advisor (CO1, F1). 27.The device according to claim 20, wherein the camera is equipped with acorrection means comprising a bifocal focus lens (700), which lensconsists of two half-lenses (710, 720) (symmetrical or not) of differentdioptries or of different magnifications and the gluing (assembly) axisof which is located in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the lens ofthe camera.
 28. The device according to claim 27, wherein the lens maybe provided with a means for rotating same about same at 360° or formoving from left to right so as to make move from left to right or fromright to left the assembly axis of the two half-lenses.
 29. The deviceaccording to claim 27, wherein the correction means consists of ahalf-lens of a dioptry or of a magnification other than the air, theother half being the free air.
 30. The device according to claim 27,wherein the correction means consists of a progressive lens of a dioptryor of a magnification varying from left to right increasingly ordecreasingly for an observer facing the lens of the advisor camera.